Don’t get me wrong:  I love the Caribbean, especially in January.   But it’s a big planet and there are regions best visited by cruise ship.   While I prefer to visit most of Europe on my own (six hours in Florence or Rome?),  my most memorable cruises were in Hawaii, the Baltic and Greek Isles because each day the ship delivered me to new experiences ashore.    However, European river boats deliver a more in-depth experience in France and Germany than I could have arranged on my own.

Some 60% of cruises are in the Caribbean and I’m certain the Mexican Riviera is a close second.   But after they take their first seagoing vacation in one of these two areas cruisers ask their agent for recommendation of new areas of the world to explore by ship.   My five favorite cruising regions are best visited by ship or boat because you’ll see much more than you would by taking a land tour.    And, my picks for the best ships in the region that deliver the best exploration of the region.

1.  Alaska.   Combine the most spectacular scenery on earth with wondrous sights not found anywhere else and you’ll get a glimpse of what awaits on an Alaska cruise.  From calving glaciers to soaring eagles, whales breaking the surface, bears fishing for salmon and moose grazing on shore the experience of Alaska will remain with you always.  You’ll fly to either Seattle or Vancouver to begin what is, for many, the voyage of a lifetime.   Favorite cruise line: CruiseWest, which operates a fleet of small ships carrying fewer than 100 people.   The smaller the ship, the closer you’ll get to the spectacular flora and fauna.

2. Hawaii. What I discovered on a one-week cruise, sailing round-trip from Honolulu, was a tropical paradise with more natural beauty and diversity than I’d ever dreamed. Each port was distinctive, and my shore-side activities ranged from going to the top of the world’s largest volcano to a high-speed zodiac ride along Kauai’s Napali coast, with hundreds of dolphins leaping around us as we navigated into caves and marveled at the sheer cliffs that line this part of the island.  Norwegian Cruise Line sails year-round on seven-night Hawaii cruises from Honolulu.    Favorite Cruise Line: Norwegian Cruise Line’s Pride of Aloha, the only ship sailing on seven night itineraries round-trip from Honolulu.

3. The Panama Canal. The “path between the seas” is considered to be one of the greatest engineering projects ever undertaken. It is awesome to stand on deck as your cruise ship is raised and lowered in locks on the nine-hour journey between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans as you inch through the Panamanian jungle. The 48-mile canal, which opened in 1914, accommodates 40 ships per day ranging from private yachts to large container ships.  While the full canal voyage between the Caribbean and Mexico is 14 days, you can also opt for a ten- or 11-night cruise sailing round-trip from Florida on Princess and Royal Caribbean.   Favorite Ship: On a ten-day itinerary,  Princess Cruises‘ sister ships Coral and Island Princess.  Carrying 1970 passengers,  the ships are mid-sized and very spacious inside.

4. The Greek Islands/Turkey. Spectacular beauty and world-famous antiquities abound on a one-week cruise to Greece and Turkey. From Kusadasi, Turkey, it’s a short ride to the 2,000-year old city of Ephesus, where a two-story ancient library lies at the end of the main thoroughfare, still marked with chariot tracks. In Delos, a short hop from Mykonos, you’ll walk among the 7th century BC ruins of what was once the capital of the ancient world. Santorini is my pick for the most spectacular Greek island. You’ll sail into the bay — a huge volcanic crater — then ascend 900 feet to the winding streets of Thira, a tiny terraced town overlooking the Capri-blue Mediterranean.   Favorite Cruise Lines:  Oceania Cruises, with 640 passenger ships, Windstar Cruises and Star Clippers.   Size does matter in Europe because you don’t want to disembark in port with thousands of other passengers.

5. The Baltic. Every port in this varied region called the Baltic is loaded with history, culture and tradition. From the opulent palaces of the tsars in St. Petersburg to Stockholm’s breathtaking harbor and historic walking area and Copenhagen’s spectacular Tivoli Gardens, few cruising regions offer such diverse treasures. Best of all, most ships dock right in the center of town, allowing you to hop off and explore on your own. A beloved port is Stockholm, built on 14 islands with charming meandering streets lined with stores selling glass.  Favorite Cruise Lines: Oceania Cruises, Holland America.  Pick the smallest ship possible that gives you multiple days in St. Petersburg, Russia.